CBN grinder wheels

[ChoppyChoppy]

Are the CBN grinder wheels worth it?

I need to sharpen a few thousand chains... plan is to go through all the pails and bins of used chains we have at the shop, recon the decent ones, toss the junk, and put them for sale, $10-15 a loop depending on length.

I have been using the regular pink wheels, but I'd getting tired of redressing them constantly. If I can get through a chain or two that's about it before I have to spend some time reforming it.
The raker wheel I use is even worse.
Between my own chains and customer chains I probably do 10-20 loops a week.

I can get the CBN wheels for about $100 each though Woodland.

http://www.baileysonline.com/Chains...-CBN-5-3-4-Chainsaw-Chain-Grinding-Wheels.axd

 

[Paragon Builder]

Haven't used one yet myself but there is quite a few threads on it. Consensus seemed to be yes if you are doing a lot of sharpening.

 

[Knobby57]

They work pretty good . Clean the chains first and you will be in better shape . I've got a few hundred through my wheel and it still looks new


Sent from my phone when I should be working

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I bought one (actually 2) pretty quickly after I got my NT grinder. I would never go back.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Pick up a white cleaning stick for them while you're at it. I use it after every dozen or so chains.

 

[lambs]

I use a cyclone type CBN wheel on a 511a grinder, just for personal use. The holes cut out in the steel blank reduce weight, and they also have a gap cut all the way through the edge of the wheel. This keeps the wheel from being in constant contact with the cutter and also stirs up quite a breeze, reducing the risk of overheating the cutters. It doubles as a chop saw (kidding).

Shop around as you wish. I do not know if the solid CBN wheels keep the cutter as cool as the cyclone designs. Mine is showing no signs of wear, and you don't need to dress the wheel to keep it in proper shape. Just turn it over once in a while to make use of both sides. The company I bought mine from can recoat them too when they finally do wear down. I was told I'd get 1500 to 2000 chains sharpened before it would need recoating.

I do not have much luck with vitreous 1/4" wheels for lowering depth gauges. But again, a CBN wheel should work better for that too. My problem is getting the depth gauges lowered consistently the same since they have a bit of flair towards the outside and don't align well with the grinder wheel. I use an NT knockoff 511a for this but only use it if I have to lower them a lot, say on a rocked chain. The vitreous wheel can overheat these too, making it difficult to lower them later with a file.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Woodland has the cyclone wheel as well, but it's about $200

If I don't clean the chains, will it mess up the wheel?

 

[Philbert]

I have not used the CBN wheels either - could not justify the cost for my use. But the comments above have been pretty consistent with those in earlier threads. Also, that there are differences between the $100 and $300 wheels, although, you can't go by price alone. Maybe try one size of of the Bailey's wheels, and if you like it . . .

I have been using the regular pink wheels, but I'd getting tired of redressing them constantly.

I lightly dress my wheels about once per chain - more to expose fresh grit, and reduce burning, than to maintain the shape. I also clean my chains before sharpening

Philbert

 

[Knobby57]

Woodland has the cyclone wheel as well, but it's about $200

If I don't clean the chains, will it mess up the wheel?

The diamond wheels are shipped with the cleaning stick . A dirty chain won't trash the cbn but it does not help . I clean my chains with a wire wheel on a bench grinder , some guys use a media blaster . If you have dirty chain it will hold more heat when grinding and it will not distribute the oil as effectively


Sent from my phone when I should be working

 

[lambs]

Woodland has the cyclone wheel as well, but it's about $200

If I don't clean the chains, will it mess up the wheel?

I have never cleaned a chain prior to grinding it. I have not tried a solid CBN wheel, but my guess is the cyclone would run cooler. And grind it just as fast. I'd pay the difference.

 

[Philbert]

I have never cleaned a chain prior to grinding it.

Yeah, chain cleaning is a separate topic!

Philbert

 

[the GOAT]

Sharpen a few thousand chains? I think you'd be better off selling them as scrap metal

 

[blsnelling]

I have never seen the need to clean a chain before grinding. I use a cyclone CNN wheel.

 

[R DeLawter]

I have never seen the need to clean a chain before grinding. I use a cyclone CNN wheel.

You must be joshing us... As clean as everything of yours is, I can't see you putting a dirty chain on a grinder.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I have not used the CBN wheels either - could not justify the cost for my use. But the comments above have been pretty consistent with those in earlier threads. Also, that there are differences between the $100 and $300 wheels, although, you can't go by price alone. Maybe try one size of of the Bailey's wheels, and if you like it . . .


I lightly dress my wheels about once per chain - more to expose fresh grit, and reduce burning, than to maintain the shape. I also clean my chains before sharpening

Philbert

I use the Oregon and Molenab wheels. I can MAYBE do 1-2 chains before the profile is wrong and I gave to spend a good 30-45 secs to fix.

It's not a big deal with a few chains, but I plan on sharpening a ton.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Odd too I searched on here for CBN wheel and no posts came up, but now I posted on the bottom on the page are a bunch.

 

[fearofpavement]

Having to put a stone to the wheel after only a couple chains doesn't sound right to me. Are they carbide?

 

[lambs]

I currently use vitreous wheels (Oregon and Molemab) on .325 pitch chain, and I dress them every time I use them. I would have ordered a CBN wheel by now but I just changed my MS261 over to 3/8 pitch, so the three saws I use are all the same pitch, and I have a CBN cyclone wheel for them.